September 23, 2013

Apple Ends Opening Weekend With Record Nine Million iPhones Sold

Apple sold over nine million iPhones this weekend in the first three days of iPhone 5C and 5S availability. Those who weren’t able to pick up a new phone this weekend were more likely to upgrade to the newest version of iOS. Apple claims there are now more than 200 million devices running iOS 7 less than a week after it became publicly available.

This iPhone release was full of firsts for the Cupertino, California-based company. It was the first launch to include more than one new phone, with a colored and budget conscious iPhone 5C joining the list. Secondly, this was the first time the iPhone was available in China on the day of launch. In previous years the country has had to wait weeks or months before the newest iPhone was made available there. As people from all over the world flocked to get their hands on a new iPhone 5C or 5S, reports began to emerge that supplies were constrained, particularly where the gold 5S was concerned. This was also the first time Apple released its flagship phone in a color other than black or white.

“This is our best iPhone launch yet―more than nine million new iPhones sold―a new record for first weekend sales,” said CEO Tim Cook in a statement. Last year’s iPhone 5 launch saw five million units sold during opening weekend festivities, setting a sales record at the time.

“The demand for the new iPhones has been incredible, and while we’ve sold out of our initial supply of iPhone 5S, stores continue to receive new iPhone shipments regularly. We appreciate everyone’s patience and are working hard to build enough new iPhones for everyone,” Cook added.

Apple did not open up pre-order availability for the iPhone 5S — another first — before launch day, which many took to suggest a lessened availability of the new devices.

The top tier phone packs a new and improved camera and processor, as well as a new motion coprocessor. The 5S also carries the first fingerprint scanner in a smartphone in a feature Apple calls TouchID. With all these new components, many speculated if Apple simply couldn’t keep up with demand of these new phones. Currently orders of the iPhone 5S are set to ship to customers in October. No specific date in October is mentioned, however.

Though not available in the states, the iPhone 5S was available for pre-order in China and Hong Kong. Within moments of the Apple store going live for these customers, stock of all 5S phones were nearly depleted, save the cheapest 16 GB model in Space Gray -- Apple’s new black color.

Supply of the 5C seemed to hold steady throughout the weekend with all models currently available to ship to customers within 24 hours. Many believe these phones were more readily available as they’re built on existing iPhone 5 hardware. Though some components are different, such as the battery and camera, the iPhone 5C is Apple’s new iPhone 5, a phone the tech giant has been building and selling for a year.

Perhaps most impressive is the adoption rate of iOS 7, Apple’s most radical operating system since the iPhone was debuted in 2007.

In its first 24 hours of availability, some mobile analysis firms were saying they’d seen adoption rates as high as 36 percent. Apple’s claim of 200 million iOS devices puts adoption rates well beyond any other operating system, especially its rival Android.